This is the document translation process from receiving an initial job request to managing, completing and invoicing orders. | Process step | Control and check | Information needed | | ------------------------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Opportunity confirmed | | Customer PO number | | Create card in CRM | | Number of words<br>Client company<br>Agency name<br>Job type<br>Estimate number | | Set up Trados project | | Source document | | Set up project in Notion | | Number of words<br>Client company<br>Agency name<br>Domain<br>Job type<br>Estimate number | | Translate (do the work) | | | | Proofread | standardize terms | terms database project | | Check with antidote | | | | Read back text with text to speech | Optional | Microsoft Word | | Generate target documents | | | | Deliver the target to the customer | | | | Update WPH rate in Trello and Access | | Trello Card and Access project number | ## Process to respect deadlines We developed this order management process to have a repeatable method, not reinvent the wheel each time. And also to demonstrate that we manage orders efficiently, and give ourselves and our customers the confidence that we will keep to agreed deadlines. ## The Translation Process There are many ways to translate a document, but professional translators need to maintain quality and so use software to repeat and continuously improve the process. ![[translation-process.png]] Centralizing order data makes following up much easier. The number of words + task type (translation, proofing, transcription) + due date enables you to determine if the job is feasible. ![[translation-process-end-end.png]] We do our translations in [Trados](https://www.sdltrados.com/), which decomposes input documents into two columns, source and target. You can then complete the translation, check the spelling and grammar with Antidote, and export the target with all the formatting of the source. ![[translation-process-canvas.png]] ![[Translation process.canvas|Translation process]] ![[document-translation-process.webp]] ## Five essential tools for translation The following five software tools are key: - Trados to import documents and translate source to target. - GT4T to provide a draft machine translation - Dragon Naturally Speaking to dictate target translation - RWS Text to Speech (TTS) to make sure target text sounds right - Antidote to correct spelling, grammar, and readability ![[five-tools-for-translators.png]] ## Trados the core translation tool ![[RWS-Trados-Studio.webp]] Trados will import any file, although we recommend converting PDFs to Word first. Once imported, the document displays as two columns, source and target. ![[trados-source-target.png]] After translation, you can simply generate the output and Trados will reconstruct the document in the target language, retaining the same formatting as the source: paragraphs, tables, sections, bold, italics, text colours and embedded images. It is an ideal interface in which to work since every document is presented in the same way: source on the left, segments to complete on the right. We use the following tools from time to time, to meet specific customer requirements: - Déjà vu. A good translation tool - Phrase. We have more than one customer who requires translation on Phrase. - Smartcat is a nice standalone marketplace with online file management - Café Trans is a local windows app very nice but Trados is better. ## Machine Translation With GT4T GT4T provides access to translation engines to translate Trados files native. This draft is then available within Trados for proofreading and correction. ![[GT4T-machine-translation-tool.png]] A raw machine translation usually requires manual correction or extensive proofreading. This is where the other tools come in handy, such as TTS to read back, Antidote to check form. ## Voice Input With Dragon Naturally Speaking Dragon Naturally Speaking is a speech to text tool to dictate your translation directly into the target segments in Trados. For it to be effective, you will need a good microphone, a headset, and a reasonably fast computer. ![[dragonns.jpg]] ## Using a Terms database While working, we use a custom terms database, which stores terms for future reference, but also to standardize terms within a project. It is a handy way to export terms for customer review during or at the end of the project. Also, keeping vocabulary categorized makes it possible to take on repeat work from the same end customer and maintain standard vocabulary without having to re-research the domain. The [[Notion Translation Database]] also helps to generate statistics on the volume of translation, revision and transcription words done based on recent projects. ## Text to Speech checking We use the [Text to Speech Trados plugin from SDL](https://community.sdl.com/product-groups/translationproductivity/w/customer-experience/5078/sdl-tts), which is a very useful way to double-check translated text to make sure it ‘sounds right’. ![[tts-trados-plugin.png]] Text to Speech uses Microsoft Cognitive Services and allows you to generate, within Trados, a voice playback of the source or the target in quite a good not-so-electronic voice. This is a real help when trying to consider whether a target translation sounds right, and whether it is technically a good representation of the source. And you always have your eye on the source and can also play back the source in audio voice. Having a voice playback is especially helpful if it is in your local language variant. ## Antidote Grammar Checker Once you have completed your draft translation, go back and check grammar, style, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, typography, constructions, and readability with Antidote. Antidote also provides advanced semantic analyses such as identifying phrases using passive voice, over-complex and long phrases, repetitions and a whole raft of lexical analysis such as the linguistic origin of terms, semantic fields, tenses, uses of gender. ![[antidote-plugin-trados.png]] Technical, audiovisual, artistic, literary, legal all require different levels of checking. You don’t use Antidote that much in a scientific text, but much more for literary or tourism texts. ## Final export from Trados Once you have checked your translation, you can generate the target document but with all the formatting and images from the source retained.